Monday, June 27, 2005

The little people shouldn't disburb a fianna fail minister

Im sure many a person has said that. But maybe they haven't sat into a meating of North Tipperary County Council recently.Details from the Neangh Guardian
When talking about a protest against Shannon Vermicomposting Ltd that was schedualed to take place during a visit by Fianna Fails Dick Roche to open the Civic Offices that was called off. Mayor John Hogan (FF) described the intended protest as “an intrusion” and was “delighted that it faded away in the end.”
Cllr Casey (FF) said he was glad the protest had not gone ahead as he did not feel it would have constituted an appropriate action on what was supposed to have been a day of celebration.
Cllr Michael O’Meara (ind), who strongly objected to the comments made in the chamber. “The people of Rathcabbin had every right to protest”, he exclaimed. “We live in a democracy where people are entitled to express their opinions to elected officials. This is not Tianamen Square or Communist Russia.
Here here Cllr Michael O’Meara at least someone has sense.
It was pointed out that

County Manager Terry O’Niadh said the local authority has and will continue to do everything it can to bring finality to the Shannon Vermicomposting issue. With the council’s legal team in the High Court again last Monday week, Mr O’Niadh explained that the matter is nearing conclusion and shouldn’t be jeopardised at this point, adding that Minister Roche will have no input into the ultimate outcome.

4 comments:

Anonymous
said...

There's a lot to be said for the right to protest.

At the same time, protests are often misplaced. Why protest something so contraversial (Vermicomposting) at something so progressive and forward-thinking (Opening new offices)? It only detracts from something good being done when it is.

Two points, 1 there was no vermicomposting going on at Coolross Rathcabbin. It was and still is an illegal dump. Peter Ogg et al fled to UK and left the council with a bill for legal costs, and putting plastic on the mounds of toxic waste on the site, which are still in situ. 2. If our public representatives had spoken out and acted on behalf of their constituents, the people of Rathcabbin who protested that day would have been elsewhere.